Sewing machine attachment for hot pressing materials

ABSTRACT

A sewing machine attachment having a heating element enclosed therein, whereby a material contacting surface of the attachment is utilized to apply heat for hot pressing materials disposed on the sewing machine. A clip arrangement permits the attachment to either be mounted on a presser foot with the material contacting surface facing downwardly, or mounted on a modified throat plate with the material contacting surface facing upwardly. When the attachment is mounted in the latter position, a special presser foot having a die may be used to form embossed designs on the materials.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Robert C. Hauf West Paterson; Melvin Wiener, kockaway; John A. Herr, Garwood, all of N .J App]. No. 866,529 Filed Oct. 15, 1969 Patented Nov. 9, 1971 Assignee The Singer Company New York, N.Y.

SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT FOR HOT PRESSING MATERIALS 4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 156/583, 156/380,112/235 Int. Cl ..B30b 15/34, B32b 31/20, D05b 29/12 Field of Search 156/583,

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,473,236 6/1949 Barlow 112/235 x 2,640,798 6/1953 Langer 156/380 x 2,666,472 1/ 1954 Hosfield 156/380 ,Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-J. J. Devitt :Attomeys-Marshall J. Breen, Chester A. Williams, Jr. and Robert E. Smith PABSTRACT: A sewing machine attachment having a heating element enclosed therein, whereby a material contacting surface of the attachment is utilized to apply heat for hot pressing imaterials disposed on the sewing machine, A clip arrangement ;permits the attachment to either be mounted on a presser foot with the material contacting surface facing downwardly, or mounted on a modified throat plate with the material contacting surface facing upwardly. When the attachment is mounted in the latter position, a special presser foot having a die may be used to form embossed designs on the materials.

PATENTEU 9 SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTORS Robert C. Hauf Melvin Wiener John A. Herr ATTORNEY WITNESS= PATENTED WV 9 I97! SHEET 2 [1F 2 Melvin Wiener John A. Herr 0 EH m0 mm m mo R 7% ATTORNEY SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT FOR HOT PRESSING MATERIALS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The broad concept of an electrically heated pressing unit removably attached to a conventional sewing machine presser bar or presser foot is well known in the art as disclosed in U.S.

Pat. Nos. 1,406,760 and 2,473,236. These units are mounted SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a heating device, and more particularly to the novel mounting means connected to the device which permit the device to be mounted in a plurality of positions to function as an attachment for a sewing machine for hot pressing materials which are disposed on the sewing machine. In one position, the device is mounted on a standard presser foot with its material contacting surface facing downwardly to be used for-applying adhesive materials, such as adhesive-coated hem binding tape, onto fabrics. In another position, the device is mounted on a modified throat plate with its material contacting surface upwardly to be used for applying a film, such as an acrylic film, onto fabrics to produce designs including monograms or to form buttonholes. A special presser foot having a die may be used to form the buttonholes or to produce various embossed designs.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a simple and efficient heating device of the above character for hot pressing materials.

Another object of this invention is to provide a removable attachment having mounting means and a heating element which is enclosed therein, whereby the attachment can be easily secured to a standard sewing machine presser foot so that the attachment function as an iron to press adhesive materials onto fabrics.

A further object of this invention is to provide a removable attachment of the above character which can be easily secured to a modified sewing machine throat plate so that the attachment functions to apply a film onto fabrics to produce designs or buttonholes, wherein a special presser foot having a die mounted thereon may be used with the attachment to aid in the formation of the buttonholes or in the production of various embossed designs.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a heating device constructed as an attachment which may be readily mounted on a sewing machine in any one ofa plurality of positions. For example, when the device is separated from a sewin g machine presser foot to which it was attached by a clip arrangement, the device can be inverted and slipped onto a modified throat plate of the sewing machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Having in mind the above and other objects that will be evident from an understanding of this disclosure, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts as illustrated in the presently preferred embodiment of the invention which is hereinafter set forth in such detail as to enable those skilled in the art readily to understand the function, operation, construction and advantages of it, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents a fragmentary perspective view taken in the presser foot region ofa sewing machine, such view showing an attachment according to the present invention mounted on a presser foot in an operative position for hot pressing materials;

FIG. 2 represents an exploded perspective view of the presser foot and the elements of the attachment of this invention;

FIG. 3 represents a fragmentary perspective view taken in the presser foot region of a sewing machine, such view showing an attachment according to the present invention mounted on a modified throat plate in an operative position and being used with a special presser foot for hot pressing materials;

FIG. 4 represents a cross-sectional elevational view of the attachment of this invention, the modified throat plate and the special presser foot of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 represents a fragmentary perspective view of the spe cial presser foot, showing the die thereon;

FIG. 6 represents a perspective view of the modified throat plate; and 7 FIG. 7 represents a top plan view ofa buttonhole formed on the materials by the die of the special presser foot coacting with the attachment of this invention, whereby one of the materials is cutaway to show the other materials.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a fragment of a presser bar 30 of a conventional sewing machine. A presser foot 31 having a sole plate 32 is secured to the presser bar 30 by means of a shouldered clamp screw 29 which is threaded into the presser bar 30. The sewing machine has a bed 37 which carries a bed slide 38 and a throat plate 39 formed with slots (not shown) through which a feed dog (not shown) of a conventional sewing machine feed mechanism is operative. Supported on the sole plate 32 of the presser foot 31 and urged downwardly by the action of the presser bar 30 against those portions of materials A, B and C positioned on the bed slide 38 and the throat plate 39 of the sewing machine is the attachment 1 of this invention.

The attachment 1 is a heating device in the form of a block comprising a heat applying member 2 and a mounting member 16 which together form the body of the attachment 1. and a heating element 13, as best shown in FIG. 2. The heat applying member 2 is formed of metal, preferably aluminum, and has an outer material contacting surface 12, shown in FIG. 3. which is utilized to apply the heat.

The heating element 13 is a commercial item comprising a heater 3o, such as Electromesh, enclosed in an insulation 35. such as silicone rubber, as shown in FIG. 4. Insulated electrical leads 14 and 15 electrically connect the heater 36 to a conventional power source (not shown) which may be located on the sewing machine. The heater 36 may be used in conjunction with suitable conventional temperature controls (not shown) to regulate the temperature of the heating element 13.

The mounting member l6 is formed of metal, preferably aluminum, having on an outer surface a bracket 17 defining an opening and a resilient clip 18 spaced from and in alignment with the bracket 17. The clip 18 has spaced apart legs 19 and 20 which extend outwardly from the mounting member 16, as best shown in FIG. 2. The free end portions of the legs 19 and 20 are bent inwardly towards each other to narrow the space between the legs 19,20.

To assemble the attachment 1, the heating element 13 is positioned within a recess 5 formed in an inner surface of heat applying member 2, with electrical leads 14 and 15 passing through apertures 6 and 7 ofmember 2, respectively. An inner surface of mounting member 16 is positioned against the inner surface of member 2 and between the spaced walls 3 and 4 of member 2 so that the heating element 13 and the portions of the electrical leads 14 and 15 in the apertures 6 and 7 are sandwiched between members 2 and 16. hereby the heating element 13 is completely enclosed in the body of the attachment l. The threaded portions of screws 25, 26, 27, 28 are passed through the apertures 21, 22, 23, 24. respectively, formed in member 16 and are screwed into the threaded apertures 8, 9, 10, 11, respectively, formed in member 2 to secure member 16 to member 2 to form the assembled attachment l.

Before mounting the attachment 1 on the presser foot 31. the sewing machine needle should be removed. The toe of the sole plate 32 is positioned between the resilient legs 19. 20 of the clip 18 with the front portion of the sole plate 32 facing towards the opening in the bracket 17. The bracket 17 is in alignment with the legs 19, 20 whereby the opening is sufficiently large enough to receive the front portion of the sole plate 32. The spacing between the legs 19, 20 at the base of 5 the clip 18 is substantially equal to the width of the sole plate 32, while the space between the free end portions of the legs 19, 20 is narrower, so that the edges of the sole plate 32 force the leg end portion outwardly away from each other causing the resilient legs 19, 20 to hold the sole plate 32 in a tight grip. The attachment 1 is pushed onto the sole plate 32 so that the toe of the sole plate 32 passes through the opening in the bracket 17 with the resilient legs 19, 20 sliding along the edges of the sole plate 32 while still gripping the edges. As the legs 19, 20 engage the outer sides of the upstanding ears 48, 49 respectively, the legs 19, 20 are forced still further apart. The legs 19, 20 are slid off the ears 48, 49 and snap closer together to clip onto the heel portion of the sole plate 32 as the bracket 17 abuts the edges of the cars 48, 49 to stop further movement, thereby securing the attachment 1 on the presser foot 31, whereby a sufficient force would now be required to remove the attachment 1.

The disclosed presser foot 31 is generally used for sewing zippers, however, it is obvious that the clip 18 and bracket 17 of the attachment 1 could be modified to fit a sole plate of any presser foot, whereby presser foot 31 is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, fabric A and fabric B are butted together along their edges. A hem binding tape C having strips D and E of adhesive-coating is placed over the abutting portions of fabrics A and B. As the materials A, B, and C are fed under the heated attachment 1 by the action of the feed dog, the material contacting surface 12 is pressed down on the tape C to heat the strips D and E, thereby fixing the tape C on the fabrics A and B to bind the fabric A to the fabric B. The attachment 1, when mounted on the presser foot 31 as shown in FIG. 1, can also be used with other forms of adhesive materials to join together various fabrics.

FIG. 3 illustrates the attachment 1 in an inverted position and mounted on a modified throat plate 40 for use with a special presser foot 33. The throat plate 40, as shown in FIG. 6, is formed with the conventional slots 41, 42, 43 through which the feed dog (not shown) of the sewing machine feed mechanism is operative. Positioned between the long slots 41, 43 and above the short slot 42 is a mounting member 44 which supports the attachment 1. The mounting member 44 which is connected to the throat plate 40 by spaced apart walls 45 (FIG. 6) and 46 (FIG. 4), so that the mounting member 44 does not interfere with the movement of the feed dog through the slots 41, 42, 43. A member 47 may also be connected to the forward end of the throat plate 40 as an added support for the attachment 1.

As mentioned above, the sewing machine needle should be removed before mounting the attachment 1. The attachment 1 is positioned above the throat plate 40 with the material contacting surface 12 facing upwardly, whereby the bracket 17 is positioned above the space provided between the front portion 50 of the mounting member 44 and the support member 47. with the legs 19, 20 positioned adjacent to the walls 46, 45, respectively, of the mounting member 44. The attachment is pushed downwardly until it rests against member 44 and 47 with the bracket 17 being positioned between members 44 and 47 and with the legs 19, 20 resiliently engaging the outer surfaces of walls 46,45, respectively. The spacing between the legs 19, 20 at the base of the clip 18 is substantially equal to the width of the mounting member 44, while the space between the free end portions of the legs 19, 20 is narrower, so that the walls 45, 46 of member 44 force the leg end portions outwardly away from each other causing the resilient legs 19, 20 to hold the member 44 in a tight grip. The attachment 1 is slid onto the member 44 with the front portion 50 passing through the opening in the bracket 17, which is sufficiently large enough to receive the front portion 50 of the member 44, while the resilient legs 19, 20 slide along the outer surfaces of walls 46, 45, respectively. The legs 19, 20 are slid off the walls 46, 45 and snap closer together to clip onto the rear portion 51 of the member 44 as the bracket 17 abuts the edges of the walls 45, 46 to stop further movement, thereby securing the attachment 1 on the throat plate 40 as shown in FIG. 4, whereby a sufficient force would now be required to remove the attachment 1. The heads of the screws 25, 26, 27, 28 may be of such lengths that they rest on the throat plate 40 in the operative position of the attachment 1 to give the attachment 1 additional support.

FIG. 5 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of the special presser foot 33, which has a die 34 in lieu of the usual sole plate. The die 34 is used to form embossed buttonholes on suitable materials. The die 35 has a long thin raised portion 61 which corresponds in length to the desired opening of the buttonhole through which a button passes. Another raised portion 62 extends equidistantly around the portion 61 and is spaced therefrom by a recess 63, the cross section of which corresponds to the desired cross section of the embossed buttonhole.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the fabrics X, Y positioned on the attachment 1 below the die 34 of the presser foot 33. An acrylic film F, such as Oroform which is a thermosetting acrylic, is inserted between the materials X, Y. Though the buttonhole may be made with only the one sandwiched acrylic film, a second colored acrylic film 0 may be placed on the surface of material X directly below the die 34 to make colored buttonholes for a decorative appearance. A polyethylene film (not shown) may be placed on the surface of film 0, is necessary, to prevent the acrylic film 0 from adhering to the die 34 when pressure and heat are applied.

The die 34 0f the presser foot 33 is lowered and held in a pressing position against the surface of the film 0 so that the materials are clamped between the die 34 and the material contacting surface 12 of the heated attachment 1. The applied pressure and heat change the structure of each of the films, F, O to effect a bond between the plies of fabrics X, Y, and also between the fabric X and the film 0 to form a molded button hole as shown in FIG. 7.

The portions of the film O, which entered into the recess 63 of the die 34, form an embossed portion 64 of the buttonhole. The raised portions 61, 62 of the die 34, which apply the pressure, force the heated film 0 into the fabric X and form recesses 65, 66, respectively, in the fabric X adjacent to the embossed portion 64.

After the buttonhole is formed, the presser foot 33 is raised and the fabrics are removed from attachment 1. Any excess film 0 is stripped away from the surface of fabric X to leave a neat buttonhole as shown in FIG. 7. The buttonhole is cut along the length of the recess 65 to allow the desired button to pass therethrough.

Through the attachment 1 is shown being used with a presser foot having a buttonhole die, the attachment may be used with a presser foot having a flat sole plate to form solid or multicolored designs on a fabric, or with a presser foot having any one of many different embossed dies to form a desired embossed design, such as a raised monogram. Masks of paper and/or metal may be used in the above process to form varied designs. The process is also suitable to a broad range of films and is not limited to acrylics.

Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to a preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what is claimed herein is:

1. In combination with the presser system of a sewing machine having a support element, a device for hot pressing materials comprising a body having a material contacting surface, heating means positioned within said body to heat said material contacting surface, a bracket defining an opening mounted on said body so that aportion of said support element is receivable in said opening, and resilient clip means on said body spaced from said bracket and cooperating with it to secure said device to said support element whereby said material contacting surface is utilized to apply heat to the materials.

2. An attachment for hot pressing materials on a sewing machine provided with a presser foot and a throat plate, said attachment comprising a body having a material contacting outer surface, heating means positioned within said body to heat said material contacting surface, and securing means on an outer surface of said body to mount said attachment, said throat plate of said sewing machine having support means cooperating with said securing means of said attachment to secure said attachment in an operating position with said material contacting surface facing upwardly away from said throat plate.

3 An attachment and a throat plate according to claim 2 in combination with the presser foot of the sewing machine, said presser foot having a die, said die operationally facing towards said material contacting surface of said attachment, whereby said die coacts with said attachment to form embossed designs on the materials which are positioned between said attachment and said presser foot.

4. An attachment for hot pressing materials on a sewing machine provided with a presser foot and a throat plate said attachment comprising a body having a material contacting outer surface, heating means positioned within said body to heat said material contacting surface, securing means on an outer surface of said body to mount said attachment, said securing means including a bracket defining an opening mounted on said body, a portion of the presser foot being receivable in said opening when said attachment is secured in one operating position and a portion of said throat plate being receivable in said opening when said attachment is secured in another operating position, said securing means also including a resilient clip means on said body spaced from said bracket and cooperating with it to secure said attachment to said sewing machine when placed in either operating position. 

2. An attachment for hot pressing materials on a sewing machine provided with a presser foot and a throat plate, said attachment comprising a body having a material contacting outer surface, heating means positioned within said body to heat said material contacting surface, and securing means on an outer surface of said body to mount said attachment, said throat plate of said sewing machine having support means cooperating with said securing means of said attachment to secure said attachment in an operating position with said material contacting surface facing upwardly away from said throat plate.
 3. An attachment and a throat plate according to claim 2 in combination with the presser foot of the sewing machine, said presser foot having a die, said die operationally facing towards said material contacting surface of said attachment, whereby said die coacts with said attachment to form embossed designs on the materials which are positioned between said attachment and said presser foot.
 4. An attachment for hot pressing materials on a sewing machine provided with a presser foot and a throat plate said attachment comprising a body having a material contacting outer surface, heating means positioned within said body to heat said material contacting surface, securing means on an outer surface of said body to mount said attachment, said securing means including a bracket defining an opening mounted on said body, a portion of the presser foot being receivable in said opening when said attachment is secured in one operating position and a portion of said throat plate being receivable in said opening when said attachment is secured in another operating position, said securing means also including a resilient clip means on said body spaced from said bracket and cooperating with it to secure said attachment to said sewing machine when placed in either operating position. 